Theology to the Rescue

What do you do when you feel rejected and/or neglected by God? Do you withdraw? Do you surrender to anger? Do you try other options?

King David felt neglected. In fact, he confessed publicly about his feelings.

Psalm 108:11 (NIV)
Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?

David faced difficulty and he knew who could and who could not provide sufficient help.

Psalm 108:12-13 (NIV)
Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.
With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.

David felt neglected by the one (only one) who could ensure victory. He didn’t feel neglected by someone who might have the strength to provide help; he felt neglected by the one true source of help. In his discouragement, what did he choose to do?

Withdraw? Give in to anger? Go to lesser “gods”?

David did none of those things. Rather, he worshipped. David worshipped through composing and singing a song. These are his words …

Psalm 108 (NIV)
My heart, O God, is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.
Save us and help us with your right hand,
    that those you love may be delivered.
God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?
Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.
With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.

David, obviously led by the Spirit, drew from a great well of theology and proclaimed …

David wrapped that solid theology like a fire blanket around his feelings of neglect; and, in doing so, calmed his soul. And then he was able to write this beautiful psalm.

The next time you face a challenge that seeks to shake your resolve, pull from a well of solid theology and find in that abundant supply the comfort for your soul. If you are unsure of the whereabouts of wells, take heart. Wells abound. For example …

• The Bible
  
• Wise counsel (from another Christian)
  
• Sermons
  
• Creeds of old
  
• The loving embrace of a friend
  

Once you drink from a well, cover your feelings of neglect, lack of faith, discouragement, fear, and the like with the truth you found. Then worship.

#ordinarylives